S’mores Granola

If you follow me on Instagram or Twitter, or even read me once in awhile, you’ll know that I’ve been part of the red-faced runners (#rfr5k) for the last few months. The “big race” weekend was this one past. Running a 5k, for me, is a huge achievement. One that I never thought, before 2 years ago, I could do. Now I’ve done three, and I run an average of 3 miles a few times a week. Running an organized 5k is really not that much different for me than running for exercise on a random Monday morning. Which is why, when I join a race, I like it to have personal meaning.

This past Sunday, I raced in the 9/11 Run to Remember in Sacramento. It’s a race to remember the events and the tragedy that occurred 11 years ago, and to celebrate not only the men and women who died in the towers and the planes and at the Pentagon, but also to recognize the heroes that gave their lives in trying to rescue survivors: the firemen and emergency responders. The race is put on by the fire companies in Sacramento and benefits the Sacramento Firefighters Widows and Orphans Fund.

Firemen have a special place in my heart. Both my grandfathers were firemen for Burlingame, the city I was raised in. Funny coincidence: my parents’ families knew each other when my mom and dad were young and before they actually “met” many years later.

Running this past Sunday seemed like a good way to remember that day. I see the footage in my head all the time; I wanted to remember all those men and women in a positive way, instead of a horrific one.

So I ran, and had my best time yet, a slow, leisurely, 34 minutes. 😉

{I must say, I’m used to being an invisible person; that is that no one usually ever really notices me in big crowds. But with those Wonder Woman socks? Man. People were looking at me and coming up to me and asking me about them all day. FYI, I got them on Amazon.}

After a race or a run or I usually need a snack. I know I should reach for something healthy, like an apple, but more often I grab a cup of coffee and a muffin or something less healthy. Which is where granola comes in.

I’ve been sort of infatuated with granola for awhile. Sally makes it all the time. I’ve been really, really wanting to try making it, because buying it is so darn expensive.

It seems that lots of granola has some sort of a peanut butter or similar base. Like Nutella, almond butter, or cookie butter.

When I finally remembered to buy these at Target, I had an epiphany.

I should make S’mores granola. With chocolate and marshmallows. But how to deal with the graham crackers? I thought about using TJ’s Cookie Butter (aka Biscoff), but decided to go all domestic and make something myself.

Ladies and gentlemen, I introduce you to your newest favorite thing:

Graham Cracker Butter. Oh, yes I did.

I blended graham crackers, sugar, and vegetable oil in my food processor for a loooong time. And got a new version of butter.

That I then mixed with oats and honey and chocolate and Mallow Bites.

And I made adult Lucky Charms.

Seriously, this stuff is addicting. And it makes you feel like a kid because it turns your milk chocolate.

Add graham crackers and brown sugar to a large food processor. Pulse until the graham crackers have become a fine crumb. Add 2 tablespoons of oil and run the food processor for about 4 minutes. Stir. Add the rest of the oil and process for an additional 4-6 minutes, stirring and letting the processor rest after about 3 minutes. (If your processor gets too hot during a long run, let it sit for a minute.)

Make the Granola:

Preheat oven to 325°. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.

Place honey and graham cracker (or other) butter in a large bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds. Stir together (it should be somewhat runny). Add oats and stir until all oats are moistened. Spread on prepared baking sheet.

Place chocolate chips in the large bowl. Set aside.

Bake for 15 minutes, remove and stir. Bake for another 15 minutes and then remove from oven. Let cool for about 5 minutes, then pour into the large bowl with the chocolate chips. Stir. The warm granola will make the chocolate melty and bind the granola. Spread back out onto cookie sheet and let cool completely. Add marshmallows to cooled granola and store in a airtight container.

Notes

The graham cracker butter will be like a thick peanut butter, almost like an almond butter. The result of this recipe is a little gritty, so it would be good to use in recipes like the granola. It would be great on toast too, but you may want to add an additional tablespoon of oil during processing to make it smoother.

Recipe Source: www.crazyforcrust.com | (c) Crazy for Crust All images and content are copyright protected. Please do not use my images without my permission. If you wish to republish my recipe, please re-write it in your own words or link back to this recipe.

Thank you for reading, and go hug a veteran, active serviceman, or emergency responder today. 🙂

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61 comments on “S’mores Granola”

Holy whaaaa? Graham cracker butter? Girl, you ARE Wonder Woman. First, running a 5k race in 34 minutes which I’m convinced, makes you some kind of superhero. And second, making this homemade granola with your homemade butter WITHOUT churning it like an Amish person… totally rad! You’re my idol.

YUM!! Mega bonus points for making your own “butter” base! Love it!
Swimming is done for the season, so I’ve moved onto running. Sigh… Swimming in no manner, shape, or form, can prepare one for running. I was so sore this morning when I woke up. It seems impossible to fun a 5K. But tomorrow, I’ll head out to the park and kill myself again.

Granola. I happen to have just made a batch. And I happen to have those little marshmallow bits in my cupboard. I have graham crackers. Boy, I should not have seen this post….Lol

LOL, you’re welcome. 🙂

Great job on your race! I thought it was very special that they gave each finisher an American flag at the end to place on the memorial. Your socks are cute! I once dressed up as Wonder Woman for a race as part of a kids event…NOT easy to run in that get-up!

my oh my, that butter is gonna be the death of me. i’m going to weight 3000 pounds and be forced to blame you, and expect food for forgiveness! 😉

You’re welcome. 🙂

HOLY CRAP. graham cracker butter. YOU ARE AMAZING Dorothy!!!! for 1) introducing me to such an AMAZING new spread and baking ingredient and for 2) racing a 5k!!! you go girl. those are not easy!! you should be insanely proud of yourself. Your granola looks so good! I’m glad you made it. Granola is so versatile! Now…. i’m off to go buy graham crackers bc i NEEEEEEEEED to make graham cracker butter 😉

So.

I see you’ve made crack.

OMGYUMYUMIWANTSIWANTSIWANTS!!

GRAHAM CRACKER BUTTER?!??!!! GEEEEENIUS!

I am a huge fan of fun knee socks! Congratulations on the race, that’s awesome. I’ve never done anything like that but I always think it would be so fun and rewarding. I also love your twist on the granola, it’s such a great idea!

I am a granola lover and maker. this looks like a fun recipe, can’t wait to give it a try!

You’re so stinkin’ cute! I love your wonder woman socks, something I would totally wear. 🙂 You seriously just gave me inspiration to get my butt back up and running again. I’ve been doing a little here and there… buuuut. Well, we’ll just leave it like that. Can’t wait to make this recipe. My bestie just came to visit and brought me two cans of the mini marshmallows and said, “Here, you concoct something with these.” Yay, now I won’t have to do it. Thanks sweetie! Have a fabulous day.

Way to go on your 5k. I too replay that footage in my mind all the time. You should definitely be proud of your firefighter relatives!!

Thanks Katie! I am. 🙂

Congrats on the race! Love the Wonder Woman socks 🙂 This looks AMAZING! I can’t believe you invented Graham Cracker Butter, sounds delish. I can’t wait to try this. My kids will love it. Have a great weekend and thanks for linking up 🙂